Display device



Aug. 7, 1951 E. FOX v 2,563,329

' DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 10, 1950 A 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ELDONFOX Patented Aug. 7, 195i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICEEldon Fax, Winchester, Ky.

Application March 10, 1950, Serial N0. 148,783

3 Claims. 1

This inven'tion rela'tes to displa;y devi'c'es and more particularly toa p'ower operated display device for continuously e;ihibiting displayobjects, such as wallpaper or fabric samples, photographs, diagrams anddocuments.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a power actuated,continuously oper-ating display device which Will present displayobjects, one at a time, for Observation and will progressive1y changethe Objects in a predeterrnined order which is of light weight and wel1adapted to be p1aced in -the show windw of a store or similarestablishment and will operate without attention, whioh provides nohazard of fire or overheating and is smooth and quiet in operation, inwhich the display objects may be easily interchanged when desired, andwhich is simple and durable in construction, eco'nomical to manufacture,and not subject to malfunctioning in operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent fr0m a considerationof the f0110Wing description and the appended claims in conjunction Withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a display device illustrative ofthe invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view on an enl9rged scale of the disp1ay deviceillustrated in Figure 1.;

Figure 3 is an elevati0nal view of a fragmentary portion of the devicelooking froin the 1ine 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross seoonal VieW 'on the line '44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a fragmentary portion of the devicelooking from the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view on th'e 1ine '66 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view on the line "I'I of Figure 6.

With continued reference 130 the dr-ayvings, the display deviceillustrated comprises a tubular cer'1ter post I0 received at one end ina hub or boss II extending centrally from one side of a. base flange I2,the arrangement being such that when the base flange is supported on agenerally horizontal supporting surface, such as a fioor, the post I0will extend. vertically upward from the base flange.

A base plate I3, preferably of rectangular shape, is secured on theupper end of the post I0 and is substantially horizontal when the postis substantially vertically supported. An electric motor I4 is mountedon the base plate I3 and carries a1: one end a reduction gear unit I5from which a drive shaft I 6 projects substantieilly vertically upward.

An ann'lar, preferably circular, track I'I surrounds fhe base platze I'3substantially coxial w'ith the post I0 and co1nf rises a pair of ringsof L-shaped cross section. The outer1ing I8 has a bottom flangeextending toward the bottom fl'ange of I3he inner ring I3, and the innerri'ng has a bottom flange extending toward the bottom flange of theouter fing, the annular portions of the two rings being spaced apart andsubstantially parallel and the adjacent edg'es of the bottoxn flangesbeing spaced apart a dist'ahce 1ess than the distance between theannular portions o'f 'the two opposed rings.

The inner ring I9 is suppor'ted fr0m the base plate I3 by four arms, asindicated at 20, '2I, '22 and. 23 which are secured. at their inher endsto the base plate I3 and pr0ject radially of the annular traok to theinn9r track ring I9, the outer ende of these arms or spoke5 beingrigidly secured the inner ring by welding or other suitable means. Theou'ter rihg I'3 is Supported from the inner ring I'9 by U-shapedbrackets 24, 25 and 26 each of which has one leg secured to the innerring and its other leg sec'ured 130 th'e outer fing and itsintermediat'e portion arching over the Space betweian the annnlarportions of the inner and o1'1ter rings I9 and I8.

A plurality of rectangul'ar ca1ri'er bl'o'oks 21 are carried in thespace between the out'e'r and inner rings I8 and I9 and res't oh theinw'ardly directed bottom fia.nges of these rings for m'ovement aroundthe circular or annular traok I I. A rectangular display card or plate'28 is Slipported from eacbh block 27 by a connecting assembly,generally indica'ted a1, 29 and illustrated in detai1 in Figure 6.

Eaoh of the c0nneoting ass'emblies Comprises a stem 30 extending thr0ughand secured in an aperture which extends through the corresponding block2I, the upper end of the pin or stem 30 extending above the uppersurface of 'the block for a purpose to be presently drscribed, and thelower end of the Stein or pin extending from the lower surface of theblock through the s'pace be- I;ween the bottom fianges of th'e outer andinner rings I8 and I9. The stem 30 is sorew threaded ab 'its lower endand a uni0n nut 31 has a tapped hole therein which receiVes the screwthreaded. end of the stem 30 to secure the union -nut on the lower endof ohe stem. An internally screw threaded recess 32 is pr0vided in thelower end of the union nut 3I and a pin 33 is provided a1: one end Witha flat, circular head 30 disposed in the recess 32 and bearing at itsupper side against the inner surface of the recess. A gland nut 35 isprovided with a bore extendingtherethrough and receiving the pin 33 andfhis g'1andnut is threaded into the recess 32 of the union nut 3I tosecure the head 34 of the pin in the recess. The pin 33 is rotatablerelative to the union nut 31 and the frictional resistance to rotationof the pin 33 relative to the union nut can be varied by adjusting thegland nut 35 relative to the union nut.

Ab its lower end, opposite the head 34, the pin 33 is bifurcated as byhaving a saw cut provided diametrically therethrough, and the upper edgeof the corresponcling display card 28 is received in the slot or saw cutprovided in the lower end of the pin 33 and is secured to the pin bysuitable means such as the rivets 36 which extend through registeringapertures in the bifurcated end portion of the pin and in the portion ofthe display card 28 received in the slot of the pin. The pin 33 issecured to be display card 28 substantially ab the mid-length locationof the top edge of the rectangular display card so that the card issymmetrically suspended from the block 21 by the assembly 29, thedisplay cards being movable around the circular or annular track I1 in amanner 130 be presently described.

A nut or hub 31 is secured on the vertical drive shaft I6 near the upperend of the latter and two arms 38 and 39 are secured at their inner ends120 the hub 31 and project radially therefrom across the top 0f thetrack I1. The arms 38 and 39 are spaced apart an angular intervalsomewhat less than 90 .degrees and each of the two arms is provided intwo parts pivotally connected together at their adjoining ends, the twoparts of the arm 38 being pivotally interconnected by the pivot holt 40and the two parts of the arm 39 being pivotally interconnected by thepivot holt 4I. These pivotal connections and 4I permit the outer ends ofthe arms 38 and 39 to move upwardly and downwardly as the outer ends ofthese arms are moved around the track I1 by the motor drive shaft I6.

A first arcuately curved cam member 42 is supported on the brackets 24,25 and 26 above the track 11 and extends from the bracket 26 past thebrackets 25 and 24 to a location somewhat beyond the bracket 24. Thiscam member is provided at its end nearest the bracket 24 with aninclined ramp 43 and has its daher end cut ofi substantially at rightangles with the upper curner preferably rounded to a slight extent. Thebracket 26 .defines a positiou A around the track I1, and the ramp 43defines a second position B.

A housing or casing extends across the front side of the device. and hasa flat Wall provided with a rectangular window opening 45. The flat Wall0f the casing is disposed substantiall perpendicular to a plane whichincludes the axis of post I0 and is disposed a short -distance outwardlyof the track I1. The window opening 45 is so located that its area issubstantially vertically bisected by the plane including the axis ofpost 10 and disposed perpendicular to the flat Wall of the casing inwhich the opening 45 is provided. The mid-width location of the windowopening 45 constitutes a third position C around the track. A fourthoperative position around the track is located substantially midwaybetween the positions C and B and indicated a1; D. The two arms 38 and39 rotate in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow onFigure 2.

A short cam member 46 is supported on the t.raok I1 with its mid-length1ocation at the position C on ehe track and is provided als each endwith an inclined ramp, as indicated a1; 41 and 48.

The arm 38 has a length such that its outer end rides on the two cammembers 42 and 46, these cam members occupying portions of a circ1ewhich is concentric with the axis cf rotation of the drive shaft I6.

Assuming the hub 31 and the two arms 38 and 39 to be rotating in thedirection indicated by the arrow on Figure 2, and the arm 38 to besupported ab its outer end on the cam member 42 intermediate the lengthcf this cam member, when the arm 38 reaches the end of cam membe 42 atposition A it will drop off of the end of the cam member and engagebehind the upwardly projecting end of the pin 30 of a display carclsupporting assembly 29 located ab position A. As the drive shaft I6continues to rotate the arm 38 will sweep the pin 30 with the associatedblock 21, supporting assembly 29 and display card 28, around the trackto position C ab which position the cam member 41 Will raise the outerend of arm 38 releasing the arm from the upper end of pin 30 and leavingthe display card at position C in which it is in registry with thewindow opening 45.

An arcuately curved cam member 49 is disposed within the track I1 andoccupies a portion of a circle concentric with ehe axis of rotation ofthe drive shaft I6. This cam member has one end provided with aninclined ramp 50 positioned between operative positions A and C on thetrack and has at its other end an inolined ramp 5l located als positionD. Arm 39 rides on the top edge of cam member 49 and this cam memberholds arm 39 out of contact with the upper ends of pins 30 as long asthe arm rides on the cam momber 49. Arm 38 has an upwardly projectingportion which arches over cam member 49 so that this cam member does notinterfere with the operation of arm 38.

When the arm 39 rides off 015 ehe cam 49 at the ramp 50 it drops to aposition at which it will engage the upper end of a pin 30 at positionC. After engaging the pin at position C the arm 39 will move the pin toposition D where it will ride up on the ramp 5I of the cam member 49 andleave the pin With the associated block, suspension assembly and displaycard at position D.

After the arm 39 has ridden up the ramp 5I and. released the assembly abposition D, arm 38, following arm 39, Will pick up the pin ab thislocation and move it to position B. The extent of the track fromposition B to position A in a counterclockwise direction is filled withblocks 21 so that when the arm 38 moves a block from position C toposition B, the entire group of blocks between position B and positionA, will be moved sufiiciently to force another block beyond bracket 26in a counterolockwise direction where it can be pioked up by arm 38during the succeeding rotation of the arms.

The cam m6mbers thug control the arms so that the arm 39 will pick up ablock and associated elements ab position C and move this block positionD. During the Same rotation arm 38 will pick up a block and itsassociated elements at position A and move such block to position C,leaving it at position C and then picking up the first block at positionD and moving it to position B where it contacts the adjacent end of thegroup of blocks between positions B and A, Iorcing another block toposition A to be picked up by arm 38 during the subsequent rotation.

An arcuately curved guide member 52 is disposed within the flat wall ofthe casing 44 at the top of the WindW opening 55 and is mounted 011 thecasing by suitable means such as the struts or iianges 53 and 5G. Thisguide memb8r coutacts the edges 01 a display card as the card is broughtto position C anc1 bringe the card to a position at whioh it issubstantiaily parallel t0 the flat wall of c2ising i and in registrywith the window opening 5.

The arms Will thus bring the display oards, one at a time, into registrywith the window opening, leave each card for a predetermined interval inregistry with the window opening, and will then subsequently move thecard away from the Window opening anal bring a subsequent card to thewindow op-ening, the cards being moved to the window opening in apredetermined order.

In order to change the dispiay objeots it is mecessary only to removethe gland nuts 35 from the union nut5 31 and substitute new assernbliesinoluding display cards, headed pins ana gland nuts for those removed.

In order to dampen objectionable swinging or vibration of the cards whenin position at the window opening, a streng permanent magnet 55, mountedin a sleeve 56, 1's secured to the outer end of a support arm SE theinner end of which is secured to the base flange 12 with the support armextending radiaily outward irom the base flange. The magnet 55 ispositionad directiy below position C on the track: and a stern erarmature 58 of magnetio materiai is secured to each display card 28 atthe bottom edge of the carcl anal depends from the card to a locationclosely adjacent to the upper end of the magnet. The magnetic attractionbetween the magnet 55 and the armatures 58 provideg a damping orstabilizing force which eliminates vibration and other undesirablemovements of the display card.s Whi1e at the window opening.

The display cards are rectangular pieces of sheet material, preierably01" an inexpensive character such as .fibre board, and may be treated asdispensabie elements if it is found to be more ex pensive to remove thedisplay material from them than to provide new cards for new materiai.The display material may be mo-unted an one or both sides oi thecarrying car:is or piates anti, as explained above, may be of anysuitable character, such as wailpaper or iabric samp1es, photographs, etcetera.

As the power requirement-s of. the device are extremeiy sma11, theelectric motor IG may be a fractional horsepower motor which operates011 a negligibie amount of electrical energy and does not generate anyimportant quantity of heat.

The display deviee may be provided with suitab1e illuminating apparatus,suitable lampg being preferably disposed Within the casing 4%:2 and atthe opposite sides of the window opening 45 to illuminate the displayobjects while at the win- (W opening.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forrns without departingfrom the sDirit or essential characteristics thereoi". The presentembodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and. not restrictive, the soope of the invention beingindicated by the appended o1aims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come Within the meaning and range ofequivalency cf the claims are, therefore, intendeoi to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed ist 1. A display device comprising a post adapted tosei; in substantially vertical position on a horizontal supportingsurface, a suostantially horizontally disposed base platze secured ohthe upper end of said post, a motor mounted on said base platze andhaving a substantially vertical drive shaft, an annular tracksurrounding said base plate anc1 supported from said post, a piuralityof display Obj0ts suspended from said track and movable therearound, ahousing spaced from said post and having a display window openingtherein, curVed cam members extending along said track, anti two armssecured to and extending gutwardly irom said motor shaft to ride an saidcam members, one of said arms being controlled by said eam members tomove the display objects away from said display window opening to afirst predeterminecl position aiong said track, anal the other of saidarms being COIlti'0ll6d by said cam mernbers to move the display objeotsirom saic1 first position to a second pssition 011 said track and from athird position 011 said track to a position in which they register withsaid window opemng.

2. A display device comprising a support, an annular track mounted 011said support, a plurality of display plates, means suspending each ofsaid piates from said track for rotational movements about thelongitudinal center lines of the plates, a motor carried by saidsupport, arms driven around said track by said motor, cam membersmounted adjacent said track and controlling said arms to move saidplates, one at a time, from a first position to a, second position alongsaid track and from said second position to a third position analsubsequently to a fourth position with an interval of no movement atsaid second position, 'means providing a display opening below saidtrack at said second position, and a curved guide supported adjacentsaid track and above said display opening to engage said p1ates andbring them into alignment with said display opening.

3. A display device comprising a, support, an annular traek mounted onsaid support, a plurality of display plates, means suspending each ofsaid plates from said track for rotational movements about thelongitudinal center lines of the plates, a motor carried by saidsupport, arms driven around said track by said motor, cam membersmountecl adjacent said track and eontrolling said. arms to move saidplates, one at a time, from a first position t0 a second position alongsaid track and from said second position to a third position andsubsequently to a fourth position with an interval cf no movement atsaid second position, and magnetic means carried. by said support andeach of said display plates and operative at a location in verticalaiignment with said second position to restrain said plates againstmovement while at said second position.

ELDON F'OX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 503129 Elliott Aug. 15, 1893938,895 Richards Nov. 2, 1909 14013'79 Van Vechten Dec. 27. 1921 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 96098 Sweden June 2'7 1939

